Series 80 disassembly question

[Quicksilver GT]

I'm trying to work up the courage to disassemble my new Series 80. I've already had the slide apart, and, apart from an unbelievably tight firing-pin retainer, it was pretty straightforward. (In fact, being able to hold the firing pin in with the firing-pin block makes it easier than a regular 1911.)

Now I go inside the frame. Sure, it's just two more parts than the basic 1911, but I'm wondering if there are any special tricks for getting those two new levers back into place.

The upper one obviously gets pinned by the thumb-safety pin, the lower one by the sear-disconnector pin. But is there something I should particularly know, or avoid? Other than dropping them down a grate?

[KillitnGrillit]

Very good question,same here,slide was easy,the frame is all new to me.

[Quicksilver GT]

So you're hesitating, too? You haven't yet gotten inside the frame?

[KillitnGrillit]

The farthest I ever got on any 1911 frame is removing the safety,I still have nightmares when I tore apart a Makarov,and had to find a gunsmith to reassemble the Mak, LOL.

[Quicksilver GT]

It's not that bad. The first time I ever took one apart, it took me all day to get it back together again, but now I could do one in about four minutes. Unlike the Colt Model M ("Pocket Pistol" most people call it), which took me two days to get back together, plus some special assistance from my wife, the 1911 is dead easy once you're used to it.

The problem is, most descriptions of how to do it are badly written, confusing, and they breeze past some important stuff. In any case they are not written for anybody who's never done it before. Really, the only problem is knowing exactly what part to hold what way.

Since I'm a professional writer, I have thought of writing an article about it, but the big gun magazines only publish their usual guys.

[mitchjoe]

Quicksilver GT:

The two levers are held in place by the hammer and sear pins respectively. As long as they're assembled in the same manner, it's pretty painless. The pic Prezz posted under the Series 80 Sticky gives a great view of the levers.

KillitnGrillit:

The best (read most intelligble and informative) document I've read on detail stripping a 1911 can be found right here on this site (primarily for Series 70 pistols, but includes note's on the 80's):

http://www.m1911.org/stripin1.htm

mitchjoe

[Joni Lynn]

It's not a Gold Cup is it?

[Quicksilver GT]

Nope, not a Gold Cup, just a plain old Series 80. But it looks great with high-polish blue on slide and frame, and classy walnut grips with the gold prancing-pony medallion. It's also a lightweight, so the frame is aluminum, which makes a big difference in weight.

Is there a difference, mechanically, in the Gold Cup?

[Joni Lynn]

Thanks... I only asked because I think the series 80 GC has a couple extra parts on the sear that are a pain to reinstall. A small spring and a equally small lever.

[Quicksilver GT]

Two extra parts? I have seen an exploded view somewhere that showed a couple of extra parts -- beyond the two in the slide and the two in the frame, I mean. Looked like a tiny pin of some sort, together with a spring, near the sear. Maybe that was them.

I can't go in there tonight -- I have a splint on one finger, for reasons not worth going into, but I will try it soon.